Canadian Snakeroot Oil

#### Snakeroot (Canadian) Oil. This oil is produced by steam distillation of the dried, comminuted rhizomes and roots of **Asarum Canadense**, a wild growing plant from the northeastern U.S.A. and Canada. The oil should not be confused with the so-called *"Virginian snake- root *oil" or *serpentaria *root oil. The latter is derived from the roots and rhizomes of **Aristolochia**** ****Serpentaria**** **(same botanical order) which grows in the southeastern U. S. A. (Virginia to South Carolina). **Canadian Snakeroot**, also called "**Wild Ginger**", is a small plant which has been used in folk medicine for centuries. The essential oil is produced in the U.S.A. by only a few distillers, and in very limited amounts (there is no cultivation of the plant). **Canadian Snakeroot Oil **is a yellowish to amber-brownish colored liquid whose viscosity increases on ageing. Its odor is warm-aromatic, woody-spicy, yet rich and sweet with a mintygingerlike undertone, and a pronounced tealike, lasting dryout. The flavor is equally warm, slightly pungent or biting and spicy-aromatic. This oil is occasionally used in perfumes where it blends well with amyl salicylate, bergamot, costus, ionones, methyl eugenol, oakmoss products, patchouli, pine needle oils, sage clary and even florals such as cassie and mimosa, etc. The main use, however, is in flavors where it acts as an excellent blender and modifier with ginger, clove, coriander, hop, and numerous spicy or herbaceous flavor materials. Its warmth and natural richness lends body to the flavor, and rounds off chemical notes where synthetic materials have been used. Since the chemical composition of this oil has been quite thoroughly investigated, it has been possible for many suppliers to offer **Canadian**** ****Snakeroot**** ****Oil**** **in larger quantities and at lower prices, than the actual production of true oil would indicate. The oil of **Asarum Europaeum **(see monograph) differs from the above oil in that the former contains **Asarone**** **and is considered toxic. Hence the European oil should not be used in flavors or as a substitute for **Canadian Snakeroot Oil.**